Quinnipiac's offensive struggles return in 2-1 loss to UMass

Quinnipiac vs. UMass (copyright BobcatsHockeyBlog)

Just a week ago the Quinnipiac Bobcats men's ice hockey team scored 8 goals and won two games. It looked as if they might have turned a corner. Fast forward one week and the inconsistencies on offense have returned as Quinnipiac fell 2-1 to UMass Amherst in the first leg of a home and home series at Frank Perrotti Jr. Arena on Friday night. This is the 5th time this season that Quinnipiac has failed to score more than one goal in a game. Four of those games were losses with the other being a tie against Boston College. One thing is certain is that the offensive issues of this team are very real.

The visitors from Amherst brought a slew of talented freshman into Hamden and they did not disappoint accounting for both goals and the lone assists on each goal. Mitchell Chaffee scored his 4th goal of the season 11:46 into the opening frame on a feed from leading point scorer Oliver Chau. Quinnipiac had its opportunities with 16 shots on goal in the opening frame. 

Quinnipiac vs. UMass (copyright BobcatsHockeyBlog)

The Bobcats got its lone goal 1:51 into the second period when some slick passing by Tanner MacMaster and Odeen Tufto set up John Furgele for his first goal as a Bobcat since transferring from the University of New Hampshire. However that lead was short lived when just over two minutes later San Jose second round draft pick Mario Ferraro sniped a tough angled shot that got by Quinnipiac goaltender Andrew Shortridge for the goal. Quinnipiac had some opportunities in the third period but could not capitalize. Kevin Duane was given 5 minute major for a contact to the head and a game misconduct on a hit that looked like a good hockey hit. The lone bright spots were Andrew Shortridge who made 23 saves and the Quinnipiac penalty kill which was a perfect 5 for 5 on the night. 

The home and home series wraps up tomorrow night in Amherst where Quinnipiac needs to avoid being swept for the third time in the past four weeks. With the losses piling up the Bobcats chances of getting an at-large bid down the road are starting to dwindle as the pairwise rankings are starting to matter along with the fact they are losing to teams below them in the rankings.

Jonathan Singer is a 2004 Quinnipiac alum. You can follow the BobcatsHockeyBlog on Twitter @QHockeyBlog.